Flu bug catches on in Poconos

Flu activity is widespread in Monroe and Pike counties, where latest numbers show there have been 98 reported new cases of influenza for the week ending Jan. 18.

STACY M. BROWN

Flu activity is widespread in Monroe and Pike counties, where latest numbers show there have been 98 reported new cases of influenza for the week ending Jan. 18.

The latest data released by the state Department of Health also show that western Pennsylvania counties, including Allegheny, Blair, Westmoreland, Butler and Erie, lead the state in laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza.

Among those cases are nine new flu-related deaths, bringing the state's total this season to 23. The department didn't identify where the deaths occurred.

Laboratory-confirmed cases only capture a small portion of the number of flu cases, so the impact is likely much greater.

That's only one of the unknowns surrounding this virus, which has a history of changing into different strains, said Dr. Jeff Jahre, section chief of infectious diseases at St. Luke's University Health Network.

"This can be a regional phenomenon," Jahre said. "It doesn't hit each place equally."

Flu cases typically peak from late January through March, but health officials noted that the illness has proved severe over the past month, with the number of cases steadily climbing and the run on flu medication rapidly increasing.

Some area pharmacists have reported that they've run out of the popular flu medication, Tamiflu.

While the Pocono Medical Center reported that it isn't experiencing a high number of flu cases, a spokesman said health officials there have continued to encourage residents to get a flu shot where medically appropriate.

"We also advise to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to stay home when you are sick, cover your mouth and nose, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, clean your hands with soap and water and when they are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub and practice other good health habits like getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious food," said Pocono Medical Center spokesman Geoffrey Roche.

Along those lines, some Catholic churches have opted not to distribute the chalice so as to minimize the spread of germs during communion, and instead of shaking hands, parishioners are now asked to bow slightly to greet each other.

The Rev. Jeffrey Walsh said he supports those measures as necessary precautions.

"Parishioners are expected to use their best judgment. Sometimes the Diocese of Scranton issues precautionary measures to be used at Masses throughout the diocese," said Walsh, pastor of St. John's Roman Catholic Church on Route 209 in Marshalls Creek.

Influenza is caused by virus and can set in between one and five days after an individual has been exposed.

It usually lasts for up to seven days and, in rare cases, longer.

The illness typically is spread through an infected individual's coughing and sneezing.

Also, officials said the elderly, infants, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions and low immune tolerance are most susceptible.

However, with 8,812 documented cases this season in Pennsylvania — more than 2,000 more than last year — health officials said it's vital that residents get the flu vaccine.

Of the 23 reported deaths, seven individuals were age 65 and older, 10 between the ages of 50 and 64, four between 25-49 and two between the ages of 19 and 24.

The predominant virus this year is H1N1, and state health department officials said seasonal flu can begin as early as October and continue through May, so it's far from being too late to receive the vaccination.

They said the flu shot remains the best way to prevent the illness, and even if individuals have received the shot in a previous year, an annual dose still is needed because the virus constantly changes and new vaccines are developed every year.

Receiving the vaccine can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms.

"We often don't peak until late January early February, and what does go up must come down, so there is plenty of flu season ahead of us," said state Department of Health spokeswoman Holli Senior. "Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated is encouraged to do so."